Living Psalm 95 – Creation Justice – Lent 3
Living Psalms Book
Psalms in the form of words and art, reborn in the specific contexts of our world, privileging the voices of historically marginalized communities and those acting in solidarity with them.
Living Psalms for Creation Justice
Lent, 2020
(To accompany Journey Toward Hope)
Living Psalm 95—Third Sunday of Lent
We’ll sing to God, Rock of Salvation
–protection, foundation, surety, strength—
Surely praise is to melt hard hearts into mercy
And crack open hearts to welcome the world.
We’ll sing to God, Maker of All
–Artisan of Earth’s depths and high places;
Hand-crafting land; pouring seas–
Surely praise is to join hands with Creator
to protect and secure; to strengthen and heal.
Our ancestors struggled in the wilderness to know
The ways of the Holy—
Presence with them night and day, yet not enough.
They contended with God and tested and grumbled:
never thankful, ever anxious,
hardened hearts closed
to the call in their moment to trust and follow.
They wearied God and found no rest.
We struggle still to know the ways of the Holy—
To recognize Creator in Creation all around us,
To open hearts to trust and to share the Maker’s arts.
Our sins against Creator and Creation
are ancient and deep; we hoard and lay waste.
There is wilderness now where there once was abundance,
We strain to hear the voice of a weary God,
calling us to courage and work.
We’ll sing to God, embodied Wisdom
Crying out to us from wounded earth, poisoned air, burdened sea.
Surely praise is to repent, risk change
and repair God’s handiwork, and our home.
O Holy One, Wellspring of Resilience,
Accept our praise and make all things new.
Living Psalm 95 for the 3rd Sunday of Lent was written by Susan A. Blain, Minister for Worship and Gospel Arts, UCC.
Living Psalms Book is created by UCC Witness & Worship Artists’ Group, a Network of UCC connected artists, activists and ministers bridging the worship and liturgy of the local church with witness and action in the community. Maren Tirabassi, editor
Logo is detail from Living Psalm 80 by Sophia Beardemphl, Redwoods, CA. Recovering from significant bullying, Sophia, age nine, read Psalm 80 and thought of brokenness that needs mending. She drew this broken and mended bowl.
© Copyright 2020 Faith INFO Team, United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115-1100. Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education. All publishing rights reserved.